Journal of Breast Cancer

Journal of Breast Cancer ORIGINAL ARTICLE J Breast Cancer 212 December; 15(4): 393-4 http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393 Changing Patterns in the Clinical Characteristics of Korean Breast Cancer from 1996-21 Using an Online Nationwide Breast Cancer Database Beom Seok Ko, Woo Chul Noh 1, Sung Soo Kang 2, Byeong Woo Park 3, Eun Young Kang 4, Nam Sun Paik 5, Jung Hyun Yang 6, Sei Hyun Ahn, Korean Breast Cancer Society Department of Surgery, Center for Breast Cancer, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul; 1 Department of Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul; 2 Department of Surgery, Cheil General Hospital & Women s Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul; 3 Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul; 4 Breast Care Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam; 5 Department of Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul; 6 Department of Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in Korean women, and its incidence is increasing at a rapid rate. Since 1996, the Korean Breast Cancer Society has collected nationwide breast cancer data using an online registration program and analyzed the data biennial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean breast cancer and to analyze changes in these characteristics over the period of time. Methods: Data were collected from 41 medical schools (74 hospitals), 24 general hospitals, and 6 private clinics. Data on the total number, gender, and age of newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients were collected through a questionnaire. Additional data were collected and analyzed from the online database. Results: In 21, 16,398 patients in Korea were newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The crude incidence rate of female breast cancer was 67.2 cases per 1,, and the median age at diagnosis was 49 years. The incidence of breast cancer was highest in patients aged between 4 and 49 years. Since 1996, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of early-stage cancers (detected in stage 1 or 2), the percentage of estrogen receptorpositive cancers, and in the proportion of patients receiving breastconserving surgery. Conclusion: The incidence and clinical characteristics of Korean breast cancer are slowly changing to the patterns of Western countries. To understand changing patterns in the characteristics of Korean breast cancer, the nationwide data should be continuously analyzed. Key Words: Breast neoplasms, Korea, Online registration program INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females, accounting for 23% of cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths worldwide [1]. Trends in the incidence and death rates due to breast cancer differ among countries [1-3]. Korea has one of the lowest breast cancer incidence rates (43.8 per 1, women-years in 29) [4,5]. However, the incidence rate is rising rapidly Correspondence to: Sei Hyun Ahn Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea Tel: +82-2-31-349, Fax: +82-2-474-927 E-mail: ahnsh@amc.seoul.kr This paper has approved by Korean Breast Cancer Society. Received: August 14, 212 Accepted: December 6, 212 and breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Korea [6-12]. To define changing patterns in the clinical characteristics of breast cancer in Korean patients, since 1996, the Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS) has compiled data on Korean breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze chronological changes in breast cancer characteristics and risk factors in Korean women during the period from 1996 to 21. METHODS Data were collected on women with newly-diagnosed primary breast cancer treated throughout Korea from January 1st to December 31st, 21. Thirty-eight of the 41 medical schools in Korea, as well as 24 general hospitals and 6 private hospitals and special clinics, participated in the survey, totaling 14 hospitals and clinics. A questionnaire asking for the 212 Korean Breast Cancer Society. All rights reserved. pissn 1738-6756 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/ eissn 292-99 licenses/by-nc/3.) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

394 Beom Seok Ko, et al. Table 1. Age distribution Age (yr) < 2 2-29 3-39 4-49 5-59 6-69 7-79 >8 Total No. (%) Female 7 241 2,77 6,72 4,758 2,28 817 98 16,35 (99.7) Male 1 2 17 13 7 8 48 (.3) Total No. (%) 7 (.4) 242 (1.5) 2,79 (12.7) 6,88 (37.1) 4,772 (29.1) 2,287 (14.) 825 (5.) 98 (.6) 16,398 (1.) Table 2. Clinical manifestations Symptom No. of patients (%) None 2,298 (32.7) Lump 3,943 (56.) Pain 221 (3.1) Nipple discharge 182 (2.6) Skin change, retraction 63 (.9) Nipple retraction 11 (1.4) Axillary mass 132 (1.9) Other 95 (1.4) Total 7,35 (1.) total number of patients and for each patient s gender and age group was forwarded to physicians from each hospital. Other analyses were performed using the patient population from the online database. The data included parameters such as clinical symptoms, physical findings (palpability, location), test findings (method of confirmation of cancer diagnosis and presurgical blood test findings), surgical findings (surgical method, complications, and reconstruction method), pathological findings (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage, tumor, node, metastasis [TNM] stage, histological categorization, hormone receptor status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2] positivity), patient history, and reproductive risk factors, among others. Statistical analysis Data analysis was performed with SPSS version 12. (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). A linear regression analysis was used to determine trends in each parameter over time. Statistical significance was set at a p-value <.5 (95% level of confidence). RESULTS Patient number, gender, and age distribution The number of newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients in 21 was 16,398 (Table 1). Diagnoses were made at university hospitals in 14,214 cases (86.7%), at general hospitals in 1,937 cases (11.8%), and at private clinics in 247 cases (1.5%), respectively. The youngest of the patients was 3.6 years old and the oldest was 96 years old, with a median age of 49 years. The age range with the largest number of newly diagnosed cases was 4 to 49 years of age (6,88 cases, or 37.1%), followed by 5 to Table 3. Preoperative diagnostic methods Diagnostic method No. of patients (%) Fine needle aspiration 4 (5.9) Core needle biopsy 5,543 (81.3) Incisional biopsy 15 (.2) Excisional biopsy 522 (7.7) Vacuum assisted biopsy 311 (4.6) Other 24 (.4) Total 6,815 (1.) Table 4. Surgical methods Surgical method No. of patients (%) Mastectomy 2,689 (38.) Breast conservation surgery 4,293 (6.6) Biopsy 5 (.7) Others 47 (.7) Total 7,79 (1.) 59 years of age (4,772, or 26.1% of cases). The number of male breast cancer patients was 49 (.3%), with most of the patients diagnosed between 4 and 49 years of age (n= 17) (Table 1). Clinical symptoms and physical findings A painless lump in the breast was the most common symptom, being reported by 3,943 (56.%) of the 7,35 patients enrolled in the online directory in 21. The number of asymptomatic patients diagnosed on routine screening was 2,298 (32.7%) (Table 2). Diagnostic methods The most frequent method used to confirm the diagnosis of breast cancer was core needle biopsy, which was performed in 81.3% of cases (Table 3). Surgery and staging Among the 7,79 patients, whose surgical methods could be confirmed, breast conservation surgery was most common in 4,293 cases (6.6%) followed by modified radical mastectomy in 2,689 cases (38.%) (Table 4). Since the publication of the 7th edition of the AJCC, stage I breast tumors have been subdivided into stage IA and stage IB. Stage IB includes small tumors (TI) with lymph node micrometastases (N1mi). In the present investigation, stage could be determined in http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

Changing Pattern of Clinical Characteristics of Korean Breast Cancer Patients 395 Table 5. American Joint Committee on Cancer staging (7th edition) Stage No. of patients (%) O 96 (12.8) IA 2,757 (39.) IB 8 (.1) IIA 1,673 (23.6) IIB 76 (1.) IIIA 521 (7.4) IIIB 36 (.5) IIIC 277 (3.9) IV 85 (1.2) T 17 (.2) Unknown 92 (1.3) Total 7,78 (1.) Table 6. Histologic type Histologic type No. of patients (%) Ductal carcinoma in situ 753 (12.) Invasive ductal carcinoma 5,197 (83.1) Lobular carcinoma in situ 29 (.5) Invasive lobular carcinoma 188 (3.) Paget s disease (pure form) 7 (.1) Malignant phyllodes tumor 15 (.2) Lymphoma 2 (.3) Sarcoma 5 (.1) Others 61 (1.) Total 6,257 (1.) 7,78 cases, 39.1% of which were classified as stage I, followed by 33.6% at stage II at 33.6% and 12.8% at stage (Table 5). Pathology Among 6,257 patients whose pathologic results could be confirmed, invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common diagnosis, with 5,197 cases (83.1%), followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 753 patients (12.%), and invasive lobular carcinoma in 188 patients (3.%) (Table 6). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system, invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) was the most frequent, with 4,112 cases (82.1%), followed by invasive ductal carcinoma, with 38 cases (7.6%) (Table 7). Tumor size could be confirmed in 7,79 cases, 51.5% of which were of size T1, and 29.3% of which were of size T2 (Table 8). N was the most common nodal stage (4,375 cases, 69.2%), followed by N1 (1,337 cases, 21.1%), N2 (398 cases, 6.3%), and N3 (215 cases, 3.4%), respectively (Table 9). Table 7. World Health Organization classification of invasive ductal carcinoma Type No. of patients (%) Invasive NOS 4,112 (82.1) Invasive with predominant intraductal component 38 (7.6) Mucinous 164 (3.3) Medullary 12 (.2) Tubular 74 (1.5) Papillary 11 (2.) Inflammatory 17 (.3) Comedo 2 (.4) Scirrhosis (.) Metaplastic 55 (1.1) Apocrine 24 (.5) Others 69 (1.4) Total 5,1 (1.) NOS=not otherwise specified. Table 8. TNM staging of tumor T staging No. of patients (%) T 56 (.8) Tis 889 (12.6) T1 3,646 (51.5) T2 2,71 (29.3) T3 272 (3.8) T4 9 (1.3) TX 38 (.5) Others 17 (.2) Total 7,79 (1.) Table 9. TNM staging of lymph nodes T staging No. of patients (%) 4,375 (69.2) 1-3 1,337 (21.1) 4-9 398 (6.3) 1+ 215 (3.4) Total 6,325 (1.) Biological markers The percentages of tumors with positive estrogen or progesterone receptor expression were 69.9% and 58.3%, respectively. For the expression of c-erbb-2, 43.% of cases were immunohistochemically negative, and 17.3% were classified as 1+, 17.8% as 2+, and 21.5% as 3+ (Table 1). With respect to p53 expression, 67.1% of cases were negative, 9.5% were 1+, 6.9% were 2+, and 16.3% were 3+ (Table 1). Changing patterns in the characteristics of breast cancer in Korean patients Breast cancer incidence in Korea has been rising steadily. During the 14-year period from 1996 to 21, the number breast cancer patients registered with the KBCS has risen from 3,81 to 16,398 (331.4% rise; R 2 =.973, p<.1) (Figure 1). The crude incidence rate of Korean female breast cancer cases in 21, including carcinoma in situ, was calculated at 67.2 per 1,, a significant increase from 57.4 in 28. http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

396 Beom Seok Ko, et al. Among all breast cancers, infiltrating cancer occurred at a rate of 58.5 new cases per 1, women, and carcinoma in situ occurred at a rate of 8.7 per 1,, thus confirming an increase in the crude incidence rate for both (Figure 2). The age-specific crude incidence rate was the highest in women aged 4 to 49 years, with 147.9 cases per 1, women, followed by 144.2 for women aged 5 to 59 years, 18.3 for women aged 6 to 69 years, 55.8 for women aged 7 to 79 years, and 52.7 for women aged 3 to 39 years (Figure 3). The age-specific incidence graph was shifted to the right when compared to the previous data, indicating an increase in Table 1. Biological markers No. (%) ER Negative 1,796 (3) Positive 4,181 (69.9) Unknown 2 (.3) Total 5,979 (1.) PR Negative 2,491 (41.7) Positive 3,481 (58.3) Unknown 1 (.17) Total 5,973 (1.) p53 Negative 2,834 (67.1) Weak (1+) 42 (9.5) Intermediate (2+) 29 (6.9) Strong (3+) 69 (16.3) Unknown 8 (.2) Total 4,224 (1.) c-erbb-2 Negative 2,557 (43.) Weak (1+) 1,28 (17.3) Intermediate (2+) 1,57 (17.8) Strong (3+) 1,28 (21.5) Unknown 2 (.3) Total 5,942 (1.) No. 2, 15, 1, 5, 3,81 4,695 5,41 7,551 11,275 9,668 13,98 16,398 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 Figure 1. Number of newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients according to the Korean Breast Cancer Society survey. the age of onset. Furthermore, there were differences in the degree of the rise in incidence among the different age groups. For women in their 6s, the crude incidence rate increased 3.4 times (from 31.5 per 1, in 1998 to 18.3 in 21), and for women in their 7s, the rate increased 3.8 times (from 14.6 in 1998 to 55.8 in 21). The incidence increased 2.3 times for No. * Figure 2. Annual crude incidence of Korean female breast cancer. *Patients number per 1, women. No. * 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 19.1 1.2 21.6 1.4 2.4 36.6 3.9 42.3 58.5 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 4.5 5.4 Invasive cancer Carcinoma in situ Figure 3. Age-specific crude incidence of Korean female breast cancer. *New diagnoses number per 1, women. Proportion (%) 1 8 6 4 2.1 7.2 52.7 147.9 144.2 18.3 55.8 7.1-19 2-29 3-39 4-49 5-59 6-69 7-79 8- Age (yr) 39.1 29.5 14.3 Median age 46 46 46 47 47 48 49 49 Postmenopause Premenopause 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 8.7 38.7 39.2 4.6 39.9 43.4 44.3 48.7 6.9 61.3 6.8 59.4 6.1 56.6 55.7 51.3 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 Figure 4. Trends in the median age of Korean breast cancer patients and in the ratio of postmenopausal to premenopausal women at the time of diagnosis. http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

Changing Pattern of Clinical Characteristics of Korean Breast Cancer Patients 397 women in their 3s, 2.5 for women in their 4s, and 2.6 times for women in their 5s, indicating that between 1998 and 21, breast cancer incidence increased the most in older age groups. The median age of diagnosis therefore also increased over time, from 46 in 1996 to 49 in 21, and the ratio of postmenopausal to premenopausal females also rose slightly, from 39.1% in 1996 to 48.7% in 21 (a 24.6% increase; R 2 =.82, p=.3) (Figure 4). As far as the clinical manifestation of disease is concerned, the percentage of incidental asymptomatic breast cancer detected at screening experienced a steep increase from 6.4% in 1996 to 32.7% in 21 (a 41.9% increase; R 2 =.933, p<.1) (Table 11). The proportion of breast cancers diagnosed at the early stages (stages and I according to the AJCC 6th staging system) steadily increased from 1996 to 21. The proportion of cancers diagnosed as stage rose from 4.2% to 13.% (29.5% increase; R 2 =.97, p<.1), and the proportion of newlydiagnosed cancers in stage I rose from 19.6% to 39.5% (11.5% increase; R 2 =.896, p <.1). However, the percentage of stage II to IV cancers decreased from 76.2% to 47.4% (37.8% decrease; R 2 = 961, p<.1) (Figure 5). Figure 6 shows changes in the surgical methods employed for treatment of breast cancer from 1996 to 21. A steady decrease in mastectomy from 79.7% in 1996 to 38.% in 21 (52.3% decrease; R 2 =.981, p <.1) was noted, whereas the percentage of breast-conserving operations accordingly increased, from 18.7% to 6.6% (224.1% rise; R 2 =.987, p<.1). By means of histological type, DCIS increased from 4.9% of all breast cancer cases in 1996 to 12.% in 21 (144.9% rise; R 2 =.864, p<.1), whereas other cancer types steadily Proportion (%) 1 8 6 4 2 76.2 71.6 Stage Stage I Stage II-IV 68.5 63. 54.8 52.5 52.8 47.5 35.6 37.9 34.8 36.5 19.6 23.4 25.3 29.4 4.2 6. 6.2 7.6 9.6 9.6 12.4 13. 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 Proportion (%) 1 8 6 4 2 79.7 18.7 1.6 74.3 71.6 23.8 1.9 27. 1.4 65.4 33.8.8 54.6 41.9 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 3.5 48.9 48.8 2.3 Mastectomy BCO Biopsy, others 57.5 6.6 4.3 38. 2.2 1.4 Figure 5. Breast cancer in Korean women by stage, according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification system (6th edition). Figure 6. Surgical trends in Korean breast cancer patients. BCO=breast-conserving operation. Table 11. Clinical masfistation 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 Asymptomatic* 6.4 8.7 8.9 12.4 17.8 24.4 32.7 32.7 Symptomatic 93.6 91.3 91.1 87.6 82.2 75.6 67.3 67.3 Values are presented as percent. *Breast cancer detected on screening. Table 12. Histological types 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 DCIS 61 (4.9) 94 (5.6) 15 (6.5) 413 (7.4) 641 (9.6) 882 (1.8) 79 (11.9) 753 (12.) IDC 1,137 (91.4) 1,496 (89.2) 2,75 (89.3) 5,84 (88.8) 5,491 (82.2) 6,811 (84.) 5,616 (84.3) 5197 (83.1) LCIS 3 (.2) 3 (.2) 3 (.1) 8 (.1) 9 (.1) 16 (.2) 2 (.3) 29 (.5) ILC 31 (2.5) 39 (2.3) 58 (2.5) 123 (2.1) 131 (2.) 185 (2.3) 151 (2.3) 188 (3.) Paget s disease 6 (.5) 9 (.5) 4 (.2) 18 (.3) 14 (.2) 11 (.2) 4 (.1) 7 (.1) Other 6 (.5) 37(2.2) 34 (1.5) 79 (1.4) 98 (1.5) 2 (2.5) 75 (1.1) 83 (1.3) Values are presented as number (%). DCIS= ductal carcinoma in situ; IDC= invasive ductal carcinoma; LCIS=lobular carcinoma in situ; ILC=invasive lobular carcinoma. http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

398 Beom Seok Ko, et al. Proportion (%) 8 6 4 2 49.6 52.7 ER (+) 59.1 59.1 6.5 63.8 66.5 7. 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 Figure 7. The proportion of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in Korea. No.* 6 5 4 3 2 1 Korean Japanese American 1-19 2-29 3-39 4-49 5-59 6-69 7-79 8- Age (yr) Figure 8. Comparison of age-specific crude incidence rates. *New breast cancer cases per 1, women: based on cancer statistics in Japan (27); SEER 18 data (25-29). Table 13. Changes in the proportion of Korean breast cancer patients according to reproductive factors % 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 increase Early menarche ( 13 yr) 8. 7.7 11.8 13.2 12.8 15.1 18.4 24.8 13..883.1 Late menopause ( 55 yr) 6.5 1.2 11.7 8.4 9.1 11.4 9.7 12.1 86.2.318.145 Late first-delivery ( 3 yr) 11.1 1.2 12.3 12.3 16.1 14.6 15.1 16.5 48.6.812.2 Unmarried 5.1 4.3 4.9 4.8 5.3 5.7 5.1 6.6 29.4.547.36 No breast feeding 21.2 17.8 2.7 24.8 28.7 26.6 28.8 33.1 56.1.842.1 Values are presented as percent. R 2 =coefficient of determination of a linear regression. R 2 p-value decreased (Table 12). The rate of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer increased from 49.6% in 1996 to 7.% in 21 (41.1% rise; R 2 =.962, p<.1) (Figure 7). Table 13 shows changes in the proportion of patients according to reproductive factors among Korean women from 1996 to 21. The percentages of newly-diagnosed women diagnosed with these known risk factors increased from 1996 to 21. DISCUSSION Global breast cancer incidence has experienced an increase from 641, cases in 198 (95% uncertainty interval; range, 61,-75,) to 1,643, cases in 21 (range, 1,421,- 1,782,) [2]. Trends in breast cancer incidence differ between Asian and Western countries. Generally, incidence rates are lower in Korea than in the Western countries. However, at present, there is a rapid increase in the incidence rate in Korea than in Western countries [1-3,13]. The reasons for the rising trends are not completely understood but likely reflect birth-cohort effects, changes in reproductive factors, and the introduction of screening programs, all of which have contributed to the increase in breast cancer incidence in Asian women [4]. Based on the nationwide inci- dence data collected by the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) of the Korea Cancer Center, the number of new breast cancer cases in South Korea has demonstrated a steady rise over time [6-12]. The age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer in Korea in 29 was 43.8 per 1, [14]. From 1999 to 29, the annual age-adjusted breast cancer incidence rate was 6.3% in Korean women [14]. This is higher than the worldwide average of 3.1% [2]. Breast cancer demographic studies from China, Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Canada, and the United States revealed a striking difference in peak incidence, which is between 4 and 5 years of age in Asian countries and between 6 and 7 years of age in Western countries [13]. In Korea, however, the median age of newly-diagnosed patients in 21 was found to be 49 years, which was slightly higher than in the past, but is still more than 1 years lower than in the United States. The age-specific incidence rate in Korea was 147.9 cases per 1, for women in their 4s, 144.2 for those in their 5s, 18.3 for those in their 6s, and 55.8 for those in their 7s, again showing a decreasing trend in cancer incidence with increasing age. In the United States, the median age of diagnosis for female breast cancer patients between 25 and 29 was 61 years. http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

Changing Pattern of Clinical Characteristics of Korean Breast Cancer Patients 399 The age-specific incidence rate was 25.7 per 1, for women in their 4s, 326.6 for those in their 5s, 478.4 for those in their 6s, and 52.4 for those in their 7s, indicating that in the United States, the incidence rate increased along with increase in age (Figure 8) [15]. In Japan, the age distribution was similar to that in Korea in the past; however, recent data demonstrates that the incidence rates for women in their 5s and 6s have increased. Incidence gradually increased for women in their 4s to their 6s, and then slightly decreased for women in their 7s, which is a different trend from that seen in Korea (Figure 8) [16]. As for breast cancer discovery, asymptomatic cases detected upon routine screening comprised only 6.4% of all new cases in 1996, but this percentage increased by more than 5-fold (to 32.7%) in 21, indicating that public awareness campaigns and increased access to screening programs have been successful to some extent. Furthermore, more cancers are being diagnosed at early stages. The percentage of cancers diagnosed at stage has consistently increased since 1996 and reached 13.% in 21 (the highest rate ever reported). However, the ratio of all early-stage cancers (stages and I) did not change significantly (45.2% in 24, 47.5% in 26, and 47.2% in 28). Therefore, the efficacy of breast screening needs to be evaluated in future investigations. In all randomized trials of breast cancer screening in which a decrease in breast cancer mortality was observed, there was a decrease in the risk of being diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer [17]. One of the noticeable findings in this study was that the ratio of breast conservation surgery surpassed that of mastectomy. This ratio was only 18.7% in 1996; however, it has constantly increased since then, reaching 6.6% in 21. This is more than 2% higher than the mastectomy rate, which is 38.%. Early detection and neoadjuvant chemotherapy may have contributed to the increase in number of patients with operable breast cancer, who are candidates for breast-conserving surgery. Similar increase in trends in breast-conserving surgery has been observed in Japan also [18]. However, different trends in surgical methods were found in the United States. Habermann et al. [19] reported that the proportion of women treated with mastectomy significantly decreased, from 41% in 2 to 37% in 26. Interestingly, the mastectomy proportion slightly increased from 25 to 26, perhaps predicting future trends in the United States. In this study, we revealed a notable recent increase in the proportion of ER-positive breast cancer (Figure 7). A similar trend was observed in other countries also. DeSantis et al. [2] recently noted that incidence rates of ER-positive breast cancer in American women had stabilized (overall) or increased (in the subset of women aged 4-49 years) from 23 to 27. Yamashita et al. [21] reported that the increase in Japanese breast cancer incidence mostly reflects an increase in the ER-positive subtype, especially in women aged 5 years or younger. There are several reasons for the increase in ER-positive breast cancer. Western populations are more likely to have factors that increase the risk for the luminal A type [22]. The Western lifestyle, including diet and reproductive factors such as early age at menarche, late age at menopause, delay in marriage, having fewer children later in life, and changes in infant feeding patterns, are some specific trends observed in Korea. Thus, changing lifestyles might increase the risk of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal Korean women. Yip et al. [23] recently reported that ER positivity was significantly associated with early stage (I, II) and low grade. Recent changes in breast cancer incidence overall reflect divergent trends in ER-positive and ER-negative cancers. If current trends continue, the incidence of ER-positive breast cancers will increase, the incidence of ER-negative breast cancers will continue to decrease, and the overall incidence of breast cancer will remain steady [24]. There are some limitations in this study. Since the data reported in this paper is based on a survey, there are some possible omissions. These data may therefore be slightly different to that of the National Cancer Registry System. In addition, data regarding the survival rate is unknown. While the total number, gender, and age distribution of patients who received operations in 21 are based on survey data, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, surgical methods, biomarkers, and risk factors; the rest of the data tables are based on registered data of the online registration system. For that reason, there was a difference in patient numbers. However, this paper is clearly based on actual data. We also believe that even if there was a minor difference, the data still broadly represents overall outcomes of the patients. The results propose that the clinical characteristics of breast cancer in Korean patients are slowly changing when compared to the patterns in Western countries, and the incidence of breast cancer in Korea will continue to rise. It is also proposed that the characteristics of breast cancer in the Korean population must be studied using available online databases. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Korean Breast Cancer Society thanks the following members who participated in this national study: Kang SY, Kang SH, Kang YJ, Kang EY, Kang HS, Kang HJ, Go BG, Ko http://dx.doi.org/1.448/jbc.212.15.4.393

4 Beom Seok Ko, et al. JW, Ko CD, Kwak BS, Kwak JH, Kwak HN, Kim KS, Kim KC, Kim DI, Kim SY, Kim SW (4), Kim SY, Kim SW, Kim SJ, Kim SK, Kim YH, Kim WW (2), Kim JY, Kim JI, Kim LS, Kim JS (2), Kim JR, Kim TH, Kim HK, Kim HS (2), Kim HJ, Nam SJ, Nam SY, Nam YH, Noh DY, Ryu WS, Moon BI, Moon HG, Min JW, Park KS, Park MH, Park SH, Park ST, Park YL, Park WC, Park JP (2), Park HL, Park HK. Park HB, Park HY, Bae YT, Bae JW, Paik NS, Baek JM, Bong JG, Suh YJ, Sun WY, Son KY, Son GS, Son BH, Song BJ, Song YJ (2), Song JY, Shin SH, Shin JH, Shin HJ, Shin HC, An MH, Ahn SK, Yang GS, Yang JH, Yom CK, Oh SJ, Yoo YB, Yoon DS, Yun MY, Yoon JH, Lee KS, Lee KP, Lee DS (2), Lee MR, Lee MH, Lee SJ (2), Lee SY, Lee SH, Lee AB, Lee YL, Lee WH, Lee EJ, Lee YO, Lee IK, Lee JA, Lee JE, Lee JW (2), Lee JY (3), Lee JJ, Lee JS (2), Lee JH (4), Lee CH, Lee HD, Lee HY, Lim YA, Lim WS, Lim JY, Lim CW, Chang MC, Chang ES, Chang JN, Jun SY, Jeon YW, Jeon YS, Jeon CW, Chung MS, Jung PJ, Jung BH, Jung SS, Jung SY, Jung YS (2), Jung YJ, Jung EJ, Chung IY, Jeong J, Jung JH, Jeong HY, Jo BH, Cho SH, Cho YU, Cho JY, Cho JS, Chae BJ, Choi MS, Choi SY, Choi SH, Choi YJ, Choi JH, Han JW, Han SA, Han SW, Han AR, Han WS, Hwang KT, Hwang SH. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no competing interests. REFERENCES 1. Jemal A, Bray F, Center MM, Ferlay J, Ward E, Forman D. 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